September Yoga has arrived!
September is the month of transition from summer to fall. I hope you had some very nice down time to spend with friends and family. Enjoy the last long weekend as school kicks back into gear, days become shorter, and evenings cool down.
We have a lot going on this fall! In this enews we are announcing who will lead the SOYA 2023 Annual Retreat! It was so great to connect last June, we can’t wait for next June to arrive.
Were you thinking of a trip to Mexico this fall, or Costa Rica next spring? Where we hold our teacher trainings, you can join us on Retreat! Last spring I went to Costa Rica training and enjoyed the waterfalls and hikes along with daily yoga practices. This fall I will be at the Mexico training! It is a great way to boost your personal practice, taking in the morning meditations, pranayama, and asana practices between pool time or relaxation.
Our goal is to provide a beautiful atmosphere for you to do yoga in, be it teacher training, refreshing your skills, or having a retreat. Or do the entire Refresh and take in the philosophy studies and teaching skills too! We hope you enjoy this issue of our enews, with the book review and articles.
Tons of love, Mugs, Bob and Becky.
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Who will Lead the SOYA Annual Retreat?
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We are very pleased to tell you that we have invited Dr Raj Balkaran to lead our SOYA Annual retreat June 2-4, 2023. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a prolific scholar of Indian mythology, and a spiritual adept who has been initiated into ancient Indian wisdom traditions by multiple masters. Raj teaches at Yogic Studies, Embodied Philosophy, and at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies where he also serves on their Course Development Board. He is also the Founder of the School of Indian Wisdom where he creates and delivers original online courses combining scholarship, storytelling, and spirituality to apply Indian wisdom teachings to modern life.
At the SOYA retreat we will dive into his book “The Stories Behind the Poses”, exploring the myths and themes that brought about the Sanskrit names of the Asanas, and how we can integrate these qualities into our daily practices and teachings. Asana sessions will embody these lovely stories and myths.
Raj recently presented an online workshop for Yoga Alliance that is free for members. It is a fun presentation that reveals his passion and love for yogic philosophy and the teachings. You can listen here.
Registration will open Jan 1st 2023 at 6am. SAVE THE DATES of June 2-4, 2023 for another wonderful time of yoga practiced together!
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The Stories Behind the Poses: A Book Review
by Mugs McConnell
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I have been waiting for this book to arrive in my life. I have always been intrigued by the many faces of the Divine as manifested through the Hindu Deities. Let’s be clear, Hinduism is monotheistic. Hindus believe in ONE Supreme Being who has manifested the entire universe, including the hierarchy of gods and goddesses. The deities are manifestations from the One who is formless and expresses itself through form.
Dr. Raj Balkaran from Toronto, Canada, has recently released a beautiful book to enlighten us through stories behind 50 different deities and why asanas are named after them... Read the full book review here on the SOYA blog.
Photo credit: Devika Menon; The Stories Behind the Poses
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International Yoga Teacher’s Association (IYTA) The Benefits of Being a Member
Article by Dorothy Fizzell, SOYA Faculty Alumni, E-RYT500, IYTA
This yoga association out of Australia is a non-profit organization, and was established in 1967. There are several benefits to joining this association as a SOYA yoga teacher, even though they are situated in Australia. It has many members throughout Australia, and has international representatives and members in Austria, France, Canada, Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Oman, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom. There are also independent affiliates in New Zealand, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Spain.
Mugs McConnell, co-owner of SOYA, became a member of IYTA in 1977 or 1978, and there has been a close connection ever since... Click here to check out the blog to learn about IYTA member benefits for SOYA grads.
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Do you have Questions about yoga or how to become a yoga teacher, or advance your current knowledge? Ever wonder how to find the right school for you and what content creates a well rounded education? Do you have questions about our variety of program formats, locations or payment plans?
Join us this Sunday, Sept 4 at 4pm for a live Q & A. Register here to receive the live link, or to receive a copy of the meeting recording.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErf-mrqjIsGt0-GHwr_80AgtqnHxxzbO6s
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Seva Scholarship Fund
This SOYA program has been generously funded by friends of SOYA who have assisted in fundraising efforts through the sale of used yoga props and books. This scholarship fund is intended to serve yoga students who have had less access to yoga, including:
- LGBTQQIA+
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
- Economically marginalized
- Differently-abled individuals
- Other situations where a student has been unable to access yoga
Any qualified or certified yoga teacher may nominate a person whom they feel would benefit from and be interested in experiencing some yoga classes with them, and where the student would otherwise be unable to attend. These classes may be in asana, meditation, pranayama, restorative, or specific approaches to yoga such as restorative, yin, or adaptive. The scholarship fund will award up to $100, to be paid directly to the studio or teacher offering the classes or programming.
Apply for a scholarship or donate to the fund here on the SOYA website.
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200 Hour Foundational Yoga Teacher Training with SOYA - in person, online or both!
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2022/23 200 Hour Foundation Training
Prince George WEEKEND Program Sept 10-Dec 18/22
Lacombe WEEKEND Program Oct 29/22-March 5/23
Mexico IMMERSION Program Nov 18 - Dec 4, 2022
Costa Rica HYBRID Online Nov/22- Costa Rica Feb/23
Penticton WEEKENDS Jan 28-June 26, 2023
Online WEEKDAYS March 7-July 21, 2023
Michigan HYBRID Mar 7 - June 22, 2023
Sorrento IMMERSION April 3-19, 2023
Online WEEKENDS April 16, 2023 - Jan 28, 2024
Edmonton IMMERSION July 3-19, 2023
Long Reach, NB IMMERSION Aug 1-17, 2023
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Small groups, transformational teachings, ongoing support!
SOYA’s curriculum will help you to excel at your yoga teaching and your yoga lifestyle.
Already a 200hr+ Yoga Teacher?? Join any training as a Refresh student for a great discounted rate. Learn more here.
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300 Hr PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
UPGRADE to RYT500, expanding your teaching skills and deepening your philosophical knowledge for Yoga Alliance Standards
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THREE MAIN AREAS of FOCUS:
- Advancing Teaching Skills
- Subtle Anatomy of Yoga
- Making Yoga Inclusive for All
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This training is now offered in Immersion, Weekend, Hybrid and Online formats!
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Details of Curriculum and Locations
*Online Weekdays: Module A Sept 28-Dec 21, 2022 and Module B Jan 4-April 21, 2023. Both modules req'd.
*Sorrento, BC Immersion: Fall Module Oct 3-14, Spring Module Apr 22-May 4,2023. Both modules req'd.
*USA Hybrid or In Person: meet online Tues & Thurs for one module, then in person in Michigan in Oct 2022 and/or Florida May 2023. Both Modules req'd. Start in either format.
*Mexico Hybrid: meet online Wed & Sun June 8-Oct 19, then Immersion in Melaque Mexico Nov 17-Dec 4, 2022 ** this program has begun. If you wish to start in the immersion as a first module pls contact us**
*Edmonton, AB Immersion: Module A Mar 13-24, 2023 , Module B Sept 18-29, 2023. Both modules req'd.
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LOOKING FOR A SOYA CERTIFIED TEACHER?
Check out our SOYA TEACHER DIRECTORY for Canada and abroad!
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FRIENDS OF SOYA - Referrals are Important!
There are so many Yoga Teacher Training programs, a referral can help a student be guided to choose a program that suits their needs wisely. THANK YOU!
SOYA has trained over 800 yoga teachers at international standards!
FOR EVERY referral we will send you $100 following their grad!
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